I've asked you before, but you wouldn't--Tell us now, do you believe Buster Jack will live up to his new ideals ?" Wade had long parried that question, because the time to answer it had not come till this moment.
"No," he replied, gently.
Columbine uttered a little cry.
"Why not ?" demanded Moore, his face darkening.
"Reckon there are reasons that you young folks wouldn't think of, an' couldn't know." "Wade, it's not like you to be hopeless for any man," said Moore.
"Yes, I reckon it is, sometimes," replied Wade, wagging his head solemnly.

"Young folks, I'm grantin' all you say as to Jack's reformation, except that it's permanent.

I'm grantin' he's sincere--that he's not playin' a part--that his vicious instincts are smothered under a noble impulse to be what he ought to be.

It's no trick.

Buster Jack has all but done the impossible." "Then why isn't his sincerity and good work to be permanent ?" asked Moore, impatiently, and his gesture was violent.
"Wils, his change is not moral force.